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SJ 18, 20

SJ 18 (Shijian 18) was a Chinese experimental geostationary satellite based on the new DFH-5 Bus.

SJ 18 was to be the maiden flight of the DFH-5 ultra-high-performance satellite platform, featuring a high-thrust ion propulsion. It provides payload power up to 28 Kilowatts.

The satellite hosted a Ka-band of 70 Gbps heigh-throughput communications payload. Also an optical infrared laser communications terminal for downlinks with data rates of upt to 4.8 Gbit/s was on board. Reportedly an experimental quantum communications payload, similar to the one on QSS (Mozi), was also carried.

The satellite was launched in June 2017 on a CZ-5 rocket from the Wengchang cosmodrome, but failed to reach orbit.

A second unit called SJ 20 (Shijian 20) is to be launched in 2019 on the third CZ-5 rocket from the Wengchang.